photographer: W H Baker
Barnesville, OH
Reverse of the Card on the left
There were at least 50 photographers named Baker in the cabinet card
era. There were four of them in Ohio.
William Henry Baker worked as photographer all his life, and all of it
in Barnesville, OH. There is no city directory available for
Barnesville so his working history is pretty thin based only on the US
census and a few mentions in the Zanesville, OH, newspaper.
Barnesville and Zanesville are about 50 miles apart. It is possible
that Baker had studios in both towns but nothing has been found to
document this. (See 31 Oct 1929)
To complicate searching a bit, there were several other men named W H
Baker in Ohio during that time. They were policemen, farmers, judges,
pastors and politicians making appearances in the newspapers more
often than the photographer. There was also a jeweler named W H Baker
living in the same town of Barnesville.
It appears that this photographer was well known for doing school
class photographs. The event is documented a couple times in the
newspaper.
William Henry Baker
(1859 - 1937)
1859 Jul 15
Ohio, US census, William Henry Baker is born to Henry Baker and
Emeline Reed
1884 Sep 18
Belmont, OH, state records, W H Baker marries Minnie C Powers
1888 Feb 08
Barnesville, OH, state records, daughter Cornelia E Baker is born
1900 Jun 08
Barnesville, OH, US census, as photographer; no address shown
1910 Apr 25
Barnesville, OH, US census, as photographer; res 241 s Lincoln
1920 Jan 09
Barnesville, OH, US census, as photographer; res 241 s Lincoln
1929 Oct 31
Zanesville, OH, Times Recorder news item says Baker a “local”
photographer is doing photographs for the high school annual including
the organizations and the senior class
1930 Apr 08
Barnesville, OH, US census as photographer; res 247 Lincoln (possibly
a misprint)
1930 Sep 20
Zanesville, OH, Times Recorder news item says Baker is doing
photographs for the high school annual
1931 Oct 08
Zanesville, OH, Times Recorder news item says Baker is retiring due to
failing health
1931 Oct 29
Zanesville, OH, Times Recorder news item says it is the first time
since 1919 that the high school annual photographs will not be taken
by W H Baker.
1937 Aug 26
Barnesville, OH, state records, William Henry Baker dies at age 78
The example here could have been taken any time between about 1888 and
1931. The design of the card would indicate it was close to 1900 as
cabinet card popularity was decreasing after that time.
Zanesville, OH, Times Recorder - 20 Sep 1930
Zanesville, OH, Times Recorder - 08 Oct 1931
(Note: Baker was in the photography business much longer than 35 years)
Zanesville, OH, Times Recorder - 29 Oct 1931
Not the one you were looking for? Here's the photographer's INDEX by name. Listed here are all the Cabinet Card photographers of the 19th century found in LOST GALLERY. This is a work in progress. For a look at the original postings go to LOST GALLERY.
New examples and additional information are always welcome. Any
additional information will help narrow the time that these precious
antiques were made.
All submissions should be free of glare and shadows. Do not crop.
Leave a border around each card. The edges are sometimes an
important clue to the age of the card.
Some examples on this page have been enhanced or restored for clarity
and presentation here.
This page is free for educational and research purposes only but, as
always, if the original owner of any of these examples objects to the
use on this page, just let me know and they will be immediately
removed.
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